Art of refrigeration



Nov. 14, 1933. A. L. LAMBERT Er AL ART OF REFRIGERATION Filed March 19, 1952 19 3fm/vanto@ Patented Nov. 14, 1933 ART F REFRIGERATION Albert L. Lambert an d Francis M. Lambert,

Narberth, Pa., assignors to Heintz Manufacturing Company,

a corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application March 19, 1932. Serial No. 599,926

3 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of refrigeration, and in particular to a method for preventing the condensation of moisture on the transparent cover for the window opening of a display rek6 frigerator cabinet, together with means for preventing such condensation.

In display refrigerators heretofore used, a great deal of dimculty has been experienced, and such refrigerators have been objectionable and unsatisfactory for display purposes, due to the condensation of moisture upon the surfaces of the glass or other transparent material utilized for covering the display opening. Where it has been desirable to maintain a low temperature within the refrigerating chamber in which the display window is located, it has been customary to make use of a plurality of panes of glass in..overlying,.

spaced relation, thus providing insulating air spaces between adjacent panes. Such constructions have been found to be objectionable on account of the condensation on the outer surface of the variouspanes of moisture from the air confined between these panes of glass. When the temperature within the refrigerating compartment is sufficiently low, this condensation results in the. formation offrost, particularly upon the inner panes.

The. constructions heretofore utilized which' employ a plurality of spaced panes of glass or other transparent material lfor the cover for the display opening have been further objectionable owing tothe fact that there is usually some air leakage to the spaces between adjacent panes, and the moisture from this confined air likewise condenses upon the surface fof the panes and results in obscuring the view hrough the display opening.

It is therefore an object of our invention to provide a method for preventing the condensation of moisture on the transparent sheets of material used for covering the displayy opening of such a refrigerator. It is a further object of our invention to provide a construction of display re-v frigerator cabinet whereby the condensation of moisture upon vthe transparent cover for the disjplay opening may be prevented.

In order that our invention may be readily understood, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of a ,dry ice refrigerator in which our invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view showing the embodiment of our invention in a refrigerator utilizing a refrigerating coil or Water ice;

Fig. 3 isa cross sectional view showing a portion of a refrigerator embodying a modification of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the panes of transparent material utilized in the modifications of our invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 60

Referring to Fig. 1, the construction shown therein has been designed for utilizing dry ice or solid carbon dioxide as the refrigeratingelement. In general, the cabinet may be of usual construction to provide a refrigerating compartment 10 within an inner casing comprising a bottom wall 11, a top wall 12 and a rear wall 13. The inner casing is located within and spaced from an outer casing comprising a bottom wall 14, a top wall 15, a back Wall 16, a vertical front wall 17, and an inclined front wall 18. A suitable insulating material 19 such as cork or a cork composition may be used for filling the space between the innercasing and the outer casing in any well known manner. A

A display opening or window 20 is provided in the inclined front wall 18. This display openingv has a transparent cover made from a plurality of panes or sheets 21, 21a, 21b and 21c of transparent material, preferably glass, suitably supported in a frame 22 constructed to fit within the opening. These panes of transparent material lare spaced laterally from each other to provide air spaces 23 therebetween. In the modification here shown, the material have the edges thereof supported by cleats 24 in the frame 22in order thatv they may be retained in spaced position therein. The frame or support for the panes of transparent material rests upon a shoulder 2,5 formed at the inneredge of the opening 20,'and this frame may be retained in place within the opening'by means of suitably placed screws extending through the frame into threaded f engagement with the casing walls as indicated. A strip of95 molding I26 secured to the frame by means of screws 27 and having its inner edge turned downwardly as indicated at 28 to engage a strip of rubber or other suitable sealing material 29 in engagement with the outer surface of the outermost pane of transparent material and the frame serves to retain the outer pane in position in the frame.

A suitable opening 30 is provided through the top of theabinet in order that the interior of the refrigerating chamber l0 may be accessible. p This opening is provided with a closure member 31 hinged to the upper wall of the cabinetas indicatedl at 32, and the closure member may be provided with a knob or handle 33 for open- 110 panes of transparent 85 nermost pane of glass 2l, we provide a plurality of small openings 37. A plurality of similar openings 38 is provided adjacent the lower edge of pane 21a. Similar openings 39 are provided adjacent the upper edge of pane 21b,-and similar openings 40 are likewise provided adjacent the lower edge of the outermost pane 21C. The purpose of these openings is to provide for circulation of air-or other gas from the interior of the refrigerating compartment 10 to the outer air.

.shownv in Fig. 1.

When a dry ice refrigerator of this type is in use, carbon dioxide is generated by the sublimation of the dry ice 36. We have found that vby providing an outlet in the manner described for the gas thus generated, circulation of the gas is set up in the interior of the refrigerating chamber as indicated by the arrows 41 and the current thus induced passes outwardly in a tortuous course between the panes of glass to the outer air. The direction of this current, with the system of openings which we have' provided, is upwardly across the inner surface of the innermost pane 21, through the openings 37 adjacent the upper edge of this pane, downwardly between the innermost pane 21 and the succeeding pane 218-, through the openings 38 adjacent the lower edge of 'pane 21, upwardly in the space betweenw panes 21a and 2lb, through the openings 39 adjacent the upper edge of pane 2lb, downwardly in the space between pane 21b and the outermost pane 21C, and through the openings 40 adjacent the lower edge of the outermost pane to the outer air beneath the edge of molding 26.

Due to the fact that the temperature of the panes of glass increases from the innermost one to the outermost yone, the temperature of the current of escaping air or carbon dioxide is gradually raised. Inasmuch as the capacity of this air or gas for moisture increases rapidly with any increase in temperature, any moisture that may be present in the successive spaces between the panes, or upon the panes, will be absorbed by the outwardly moving current. It will thus be clear that the construction which we have devised provides a method for preventing the condensation of moisture upon the panes of glass constituting the cover for the display opening, and provides simple and inexpensive means by which this may be accomplished.

The modification of our invention disclosed in Fig. 2 of the drawing is substantially like that shown in Fig. 1, and diifers therefrom in that it has been designed to utilize a refrigerating coil 41a o'r ordinary water ice in the refrigerating compartment 10a. In general the cabinet comprises an outer casing, an inner casing, intervening insulating material 19B, a top opening 30a and a closure member 31a as described in connection with the construction shown in Fig. 1. The cover for the display opening 2Oa in the inclined front wall 18a is likewise similar to the cover for the display opening of the construction In order to provide for circulation of air from the interior of the refrigerating chamber 10a outwardly through the spacesbetween the overlying panes of transparent 'material 21d, 21e, 2li, 21E, some means must be provided for admitting outside air to the refrigerating chamber 10a at a suitable point or points. We have found that such provision may be made by an opening 42 through the top wall of the chamber, or a plurality of small openings if desirable. Satisfactory means for replacing the air in the chamber 10a may also be secured by providing suitable leakage around the closure member 31a. While the circulation from the interior of the chamber 10 in Fig. 1 to the outer air is induced by the pressure generated by the sublimation of the dry ice 36 utilized therein, gravity is preferably depended upon to induce circulation of air outwardly to the the outer air in the modification in which a refrigerating coil 41 or water ice is used as the refrigerating element. It is therefore essential when a refrigerating coil or water ice is used to so locate the air inlet 42 to the refrigerating chamber 10n and the outlet 40a from the outermost air space that the inlet 42 may be at a-relatively high location and the outlet 40a at a relatively low location with respect to the refrigerating compartment. Owing to the differencey between the temperature of the air entering the compartment and its temperature when leaving the compartment, a natural circulation is induced by gravity.

In-Fig.- 3 of the drawing we have shown a modification of the passageways connecting the spaces between overlying panes, and the passageways leading from the innermost and outermost spaces to the interior of the refrigerating cabinet and to the exterior air respectively.

In this modification we utilize a frame 22a with the panes of glass or other transparent material 21h, 2li, 211, 21k supported therein in spaced relation from each other by means of strips 43 of wood or other suitable material. A passageway 44 leads from the refrigerating chamber 10c through the top portion of the frame tothe innermost space between panes 21h and 211. A passageway 45 through the bottom portion of the frame connectsfthe bottom of the space between' panes 2lh and 21i with the next succeeding space. A similar passageway 46 through the upper portion of the frame connects the space between panes 21i and 21j with the outermost space. A passageway 4'7 through the lower portion of the frame serves as an outlet to the outer air from the bottom of the outermost space. Circulation of air or gas, when this modification of our invention'is employed, is similar in every respect to the circulation heretofore described in connection with the modifications shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the various modifications of our improve- `tial feature of our invention in this respect is that these passageways be so located as to provide a circulation of air or other gas from the refrigerating compartment over the surfaces of the panes of transparent material in order that the current of air or other gas may pass thereover, increase in temperature as it moves outp wardly, and thereby take up any moisture that l placed on alternate edges of successive panes, it

will be understood that the precise number of openings or passageways, and the precise location of these passageways, are not to be regarded as material to the improvement which We have made. In some cases the central opening may be omitted. In others a central opening alone may be suient. In other cases the corner openings may be utilized in one pane with a single central opening in the adjacent pane. In still other cases satisfactory circulation may be secured by having all the spaces between the panes in direct communication with a main inlet from the refriger-` ating compartment, and the opposite edges of al1y the spaces in direct communication with the outlet to the outer air. s

Having thus'described our invention, what We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a refrigerator having a display window in the refrigerating chamber thereof, the combination of a window frame, a plurality of panes of transparent material arrangedin spaced relation in said frame to provide an intervening space between adjacent panes, each of said panes being provided with openings therethrough adjacent alternate edges of adjacent panes, the openings in the innermost pane communicating with the refrigerating chamber, thereby permitting circulation of air or other gas from said refrigerating chamber through the successive spaces between said panes to the outer air.

2. In a refrigerator having a display Window in the refrigerating chamber thereof, the combination of a window frame, a plurality of panes 'of transparent material arranged in spaced relation in said frame to provide an intervening space between adjacentl panes, the inner of said panes being provided with openings therethrough adjacent its upper edge and communicating with the refrigerating chamber, and the remaining panes being provided with openings therethrough adjacent one edge, the openings in successive panes alternating with respect to each other to permit circulation of air or other gas from said refrigerating chamber across the faces of successive panes to the outer air.

3. In a refrigerator construction, the combination of a'refrigerating chamber having a display window therein, a plurality of panes of transparent material covering said window and spaced from each other to provide air spaces therebetween, a passageway from said refrigerating chamber to the air space between the inner pane and the adjacent pane of transparent material, located adjacent one edge of said window, and passageways between successive air spaces and between the outer air space and the outer air,

alternating with respect to said rst passageway and each other. y

. ALBERT L. LAMBERT.

FRANCIS M. LAMBERT.

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